I fished the Holston about 5 miles below Cherokee dam on Friday May 25th from 12-3 pm. I saw a few caddis hatching but not the level of bug activity that I am used to seeing this time of year. However, trout were rising somewhat frequently to eat something (caddis emergers or midges?). I fished a double nymph rig with a heavy nymph fished about a foot above an olive zebra midge and ended up doing really well. Caught about 10 trout with 5 pushing the 15" mark and all were Holston-fat. There was a mix of rainbows and browns (first browns I have caught on the river). Below is a shot of my best fish of the day. It was awesome.

Corbo and Shawn, I'd be glad to let you know exactly where I was fishing (Shawn has my phone#) but I accessed the river from some private property. It was a bit downstream of the Tampico area.

I was surprised at the number of browns I saw. The trout grow so quickly in that river they may have been stocked in the last year? Seems like the river would be great for browns since it is warm and relatively slow moving in a lot of areas.

There was a lot of junk (weeds and algae) floating down the river. I'm sure that brought a lot of food along and also helped disguise my un-stealthy delivery. Not sure if there is a way to predict if/when that crud plume will happen based on Cherokee's generation or if it just happens this time of year?

Same river but different place on it; the posts above reference the area below Cherokee dam.... the South Holston is far up-river below South Holston Dam. Both are wicked awesome fisheries. It must be difficult living in AL and being a trout bum... move here so you can do it better.

CINCIVOL; when do you want to go? My new "job" or enterprise will make fishing fri, sat, sun impossible but it beats construction which beats me.